News & Discussion: Trams

[rubberman]

in those latest pictures it looks suspiciously like a Right hand turn curve from KWS to North Tce. They aren't sneaking one in to guzzump the whingers are they?

I think that's just for the single track to allow Westbound trams on North Tce to turn left/South onto KWS, there's probably not going to be a 2nd track for Northbound trams on KWS to turn right/East onto North Tce.

On the topic of where next for the trams.. I'm guessing an election announcement of a Norwood tram along The Parade, maybe built in 2 stages: stage 1 to Kent Town and stage 2 to Norwood Town Hall. Norwood is a marginal and the State Opposition leader's own electorate.

Ooh, you cynic!

Mind you, it could backfire a bit if the shopkeepers on the Parade go "Oh woe is us we'll all be rooned while the tracks are being built!", and "Hey, are they cutting those trees down?" Might not work so well for the government.

I'd back Shuz's plan from a few posts above today. Extend to Hindmarsh stadium to get the soccer fans vote, to Colley Terrace for a Glenelg boost, to the Oval for the (real) footy fans, and maybe extend the City Loop along Hutt St to get the Adelaide hipster vote. (That last wasn't in the Shuz Plan, but I'm winging it, so work with me here).

[Nathan]

Hutt St? Hipsters?

I see some battling between The Parade and North Adelaide/Prospect for the next route. I'm sure there'd be a case put forward about needing the tram to help with the activation of the Le Cornu site now that the council will take on the responsibility for developing it. Don't see any use in extending Glenelg or Ent Centre for now.

[PeFe]

My 2 cents worth for the next tram extensions..........up King William Street into O'Connell St North Adelaide.....why?....connect North Adelaide with easy reliable transport to the CBD (the current buses are harder to workout) enabling further residential and tourism development.

And the "east" tram from East Terrace up Rundle Road to at least the corner of Fullarton and the Parade West......why.....because Kent Town should turn into an apartment hotspot, perfect for encouraging people onto public transport (and living life car-free)

[how good is he]

I think for any tram extension to the Parade, Prospect Rd & Henley Beach Rds the space avail. is very tight so the trams may need to share the road with cars etc like they do on Jetty Rd Glenelg. A few years back there was a study that found just extending the tram to North Adelaide wasn’t financially viable. I suspect the study found the majority of (wealthy) residents of North Adelaide don’t use public transport nor want to/need to. Therefore you would expect that with any extension the tram will need to go further.
Also the final stage of the TDU on 19 Jan goes through this new intersection, so I hope all is ready/done right. Does anyone know if they will they replace all the existing road/bitumen along the length of the extension (inc North Tce)?

[[Shuz]]

First we had the MATS Plan, now we have the Shuz Plan. I"m truly honored.

Someone mentioned before about the King William Street bridge over the River Torrens. I do recall reading an article somewhere that work needed to be done to the bridge so that it can handle the load of today's heavier trams - was about $10m to $20m worth of engineering works needed to be done to bring it up to standard.

[Norman]

First piece of track was lowered into place today

[rubberman]

First we had the MATS Plan, now we have the Shuz Plan. I"m truly honored.

Someone mentioned before about the King William Street bridge over the River Torrens. I do recall reading an article somewhere that work needed to be done to the bridge so that it can handle the load of today's heavier trams - was about $10m to $20m worth of engineering works needed to be done to bring it up to standard.

The axle loads on the Flexities is about the same as an H car fully laden. So, it's a puzzle.

[Haso]

First piece of track was lowered into place today

Ta! You must be camping there...

[ChillyPhilly]

Two quick snaps.

[Brucetiki]

First piece of track was lowered into place today

That's one nice hashtag!

[Tonsley213]

Thank to the people getting pics and sharing them with us. It great to see the progress. Thank you very much.

[PD2/20]

Today the excavation along North Terrace extends to Station Rd at the Casino. There was a significant heap of scrapped orange and white conduit in front of Parliament. In addition a blue (optical?) comms cable has been strung temporarily between the Railway Station and Rundle Mall stops.

[Ser Noit of Loit]

How far does the existing track need to be pulled up and replaced?

[Patrick_27]

in those latest pictures it looks suspiciously like a Right hand turn curve from KWS to North Tce. They aren't sneaking one in to guzzump the whingers are they?

I think that's just for the single track to allow Westbound trams on North Tce to turn left/South onto KWS, there's probably not going to be a 2nd track for Northbound trams on KWS to turn right/East onto North Tce.

On the topic of where next for the trams.. I'm guessing an election announcement of a Norwood tram along The Parade, maybe built in 2 stages: stage 1 to Kent Town and stage 2 to Norwood Town Hall. Norwood is a marginal and the State Opposition leader's own electorate.

It'll be a city loop next, I suspect this will explain why the government haven't budged on the right-hand turn issue. Also, you're correct. That's a spare single track for tram for off the beat tram movement, not for regular services. This also existed in the old tram network.

[bits]

Someone mentioned before about the King William Street bridge over the River Torrens. I do recall reading an article somewhere that work needed to be done to the bridge so that it can handle the load of today's heavier trams - was about $10m to $20m worth of engineering works needed to be done to bring it up to standard.

The axle loads on the Flexities is about the same as an H car fully laden. So, it's a puzzle.

Isn't there more cars so more axles on the new trams? A single pressure point load is important but also the total load is important for a bridge.